Lobbyists:IfTrumpWins,Military-IndustrialComplexWillMovetoEurope

Defense lobbyists claim billions in arms sales to repressive Middle East dictatorships will be lost.

The US defense industry and national security analysts have expressed growing alarm that a Donald Trump presidency may cost the defense industry billions of dollars in its illicit sales to repressive Middle East dictatorships, according to a recent report.

A "President Trump may prove offensive to Islamic leaders and those countries might seek alternative sources of weapons systems," says Byron Callan, an analyst with Capital Alpha Partners. He suggests that this could benefit European weapon makers, if militaristic dictators choose to "reduce US defense dependence."

The report asserts that billions of dollars that would be lost for Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and buyers could conceivably shift to European arms makers such as BAE Systems, Airbus, Thales, and Finmeccanica.

With the winding down of the military quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan, US weapons sales have been heavily dependent on foreign sales. But arms markers suggest that the emergence of Daesh and a growing turmoil throughout the Middle East have been a boon, resulting in a steep jump in arms deals.

One lobbyist claimed that Trump’s rhetorical promise of a proposed travel ban for Muslims has been terrible for the defense industry’s ability to force Beltway politicians to advance arms deals with Islamic countries. "Anti-Muslim rhetoric absolutely does not help when you’re trying to sell to the Middle East," said the lobbyist.

In 2015, the US government approved $21 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, among the world’s worst human rights violators. The repressive Arab kingdom in Riyadh ranked in the bottom 9% of countries in a study by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Fortunately for non-lobbyists, xenophobic statements may inadvertently advance their common interest, as recent public opinion polls show that the US arms trade with repressive Middle Eastern regimes is increasingly unpopular with Americans.

They can't just move overseas. The government won't let them bring military secrets to foreign countries. They may be private businesses but the government has to sign off on sales of military technology.

Bob, I think one of the strengths is that people here can be seen from many different cultures and consequently, they are joined in a conversation not one upmanship as it were. (with the odd exception :) )

The defense industry in the USA has undergone a gradual but inevitable decline since the end of World War Two. Nothing moves in a straight line, and everything on earth is governed by Elliott Waves going up and down in either motive or corrective form. The Korean War, the Vietnam War and the War on Terror (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.) were temporary blips in the upward direction. As time moves forward and especially as the US economy contracts due to the collapsing debt bubble, collapsing demographics and ultimately due to the last and biggest bubble of them all (the US Dollar) the defense industry in the USA will undergo an incredible shrinking act.

Aon Duine, you are right, this is just hog wash of Lobbyists trying to influence US voters. There is much more resistance to arms sales in Europe than in the US. And Europe is much more in decline than the US. When the UK splits off and Le Pen is in power in France and significant numbers of voters for the AfD blocks the traditional parties in Germany, there may be extrem tensions between the US and the EU. That's why the US is trying to enforce TTIP soon since the time window is closing.

sixpack6t9, That's correct, it's just political nonsense to get voters to vote with the lobby. The us defense industry is not moving anywhere no matter what. If people really want to change the "culture of money" then stop buying their products, I do not buy Apple and I do not use Facebook-- I hate the little rat-faced weasel.

Marc Nonnenkamp, I am not sure I agree. Currently there are no shortages of nations and groups that are willing to buy weapons, they may not be big ticket weapons, but weapons nevertheless. Additionally, there also is no shortage of nations manufacturing and selling these weapons (the big 3). So as long as there is a market for them there will be competition for them, and if the US companies are competitive in price and quality, they will continue to make and sell arms. The bigger question, I think, is what will happen to many of the countries, and waring/terrorist groups when the technological breakthrough in alternative energy arrives that replaces in a big way, their primary export, oil. For an obvious example where would ISIS get its money, and what would be the ensentive for Turkey to continue to behave stupidity!This is plausible irrespective of the US federal debt - just a thought.

If Trump is Presient the world will see a huge winding down on wars and "terrorist" acts.No country will benefit from shifting arms sales from US to Europe since there will be no wars all around the world, no more scaremongering about the Chinese Yellow Peril sweeping to engulf Asia, no Cossacks from the steppes to enslave Europe.

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